How much money do you spend on fast food every year? One hundred dollars? Five hundred dollars?

For the average American, it’s $1,200. That’s around 10 percent of your annual income.

If you spend a disproportionate amount of money on fast food, it might be time to start your fitness journey. Changing your lifestyle takes more than having a proper diet, however.

By combining exercise and diet, you can get in the best shape of your life. Keep reading for tips on exercise and nutrition, and why they’re important.

Your Metabolism Will Increase

Many people know that exercise helps increase metabolism, but did you know a proper diet can accomplish this too?

To jumpstart your metabolism in the morning, eat breakfast. Foods with protein or minerals are great metabolism-boosting options. Coffee and tea will do the trick, too!

Next, follow up with cardio. A half-hour walk in the morning will speed up your metabolism now and curb your appetite later.

Don’t skimp on weight training, either. Lean muscles are better at burning calories than fat, so make sure your exercises have some variety.

You’ll Have More Energy

By combining exercise and nutrition, you’ll have a steady flow of energy available to you.

Maybe you feel like you don’t have enough time to devote an hour a day to exercise. Or maybe the prospect of cardio is intimidating.

If you’re at the beginning of your fitness journey, start with stabilization exercises. When the time comes for more strenuous workouts, you won’t find it as painful. 

Stabilization exercises also prevent injury to your back during exercise or daily errands. This means you’ll have an easier time shopping, gardening, and cleaning done.

When it comes to your diet, skip the fast food and concentrate on food that will give you energy. When you’re at the grocery store, pick up some bananas, sweet potatoes, eggs, and other healthy foods.

You’ll Focus Better

Diet and exercise do more than improve our physical health. They make our brains healthier, too.

Did you have a stressful day at work? Go for a jog. Have you been feeling depressed lately? Go unroll your yoga mat. 

Studies show that a sixty-minute walk (or a fifteen-minute run) can decrease your chance of depression or keep you from relapsing.

The proper diet can also have a positive effect on your mental well-being. Lean into proteins like chicken, fish, and nuts. Yogurt, spinach, and whole grains will also be great additions to your diet. 

Through these exercise and nutrition tips, your brain can function better and ward off cognitive decay.

Start Your Exercise and Nutrition Plan Today

Sometimes, the mere idea of diet and exercise can seem daunting. Combining exercise and nutrition for healthier living, however, is the exact thing we need to enhance our lives.

No matter where you are on your fitness journey, you can start making changes today for a better tomorrow.

For more diet and fitness tips on losing weight, keep browsing our site.